For the snow months you could raise the suspension as high as possible and then have the springs and dampening be very soft. I think this would work well (IDK though, since the last time I drove my Supra in the snow I did it with my very wide and sticky summer only tires and the suspension set very stiff).
Mild suspension upgrade advice request
- Thread starter Victor Charlie
- Start date
honestabe;1442109 said:
I'll let everyone know in a few months... thanks for the tips today. I have a much better idea what the options are now.
I personally love my suspension setup with a passion. It handles like a car on rails and isn't too stiff over bumps and dips in the road. Here's what I'm running at the moment:
HSD fully adjustable gas-shock coilovers ($1400...) but with full tunability. (currently dropped 1.75 inches from stock)
Cusco front and rear strut tower bars (about $150 each) (you've gotta cut two little oval shaped slots in your rear plastic trim pieces, but it looks clean if you put grommets around the holes)
Suspension techniques sway bars + BiC metal endlinks for both front and rear ($300 + about $220 for end links) (makes cornering feel really nice, gets rid of alot of body roll)
I'd really like to get around to re-doing all my bushings, if not with poly then with a hard rubber or even neoprene from what I've heard.
Suspension tech
HSD fully adjustable gas-shock coilovers ($1400...) but with full tunability. (currently dropped 1.75 inches from stock)
Cusco front and rear strut tower bars (about $150 each) (you've gotta cut two little oval shaped slots in your rear plastic trim pieces, but it looks clean if you put grommets around the holes)
Suspension techniques sway bars + BiC metal endlinks for both front and rear ($300 + about $220 for end links) (makes cornering feel really nice, gets rid of alot of body roll)
I'd really like to get around to re-doing all my bushings, if not with poly then with a hard rubber or even neoprene from what I've heard.
Suspension tech
Im gonna be driving in the winter too.. I live in Windsor, ontario so i am right across from detroit. Gonna get 4 dedicated winter tires.. this is my first winter in this car.. so hopefully it goes well.
Also, raising and lowering a car with coilovers isn't exactly what I would call fun. Especially true if you're anal and want to corner balance the car or get the ride height perfect with you in it...
Kevin;1442661 said:
I love the supra in the snow. Play time! I went with very narrow tires, 195 or 205, and it worked the last two years. Takes practice but then its great. My problem this year is that I haven't transferred the LSD to the new car, or worked on my suspension yet, so I may end up driving the truck a lot.
steve1479;1442421 said:
I bought bushings, but I'm afraid to start until I know how much down time to expect. I might do the struts first, then take it apart again to do bushings one wheel at a time. RonnieK, on his site, says you need special tools, a press, and a lot of time to do all the bushings, so that's a bit scary since I don't have any of those things, LOL
Sway bar? One forum member said it makes the car respond to steering quicker, but actually makes more skidding in bumpy turns. How much sway is good sway? I might need a separate thread on this if this one is getting stale.
I agree with this dude. Not to mention the RUST!!!honestabe;1441997 said:
I grew up in MI and I love cars, thats really the whole reason I left. If you have never worked on a 20+ year old southwest rust free car you would be blown away at how well they are preserved. I would personally never drive a car like this through a winter. Too much exposure to salt and rain.
I feel sorry for both of your cars. And you guys, as I personally cant take the overcast, it totally bums me out.Kevin;1442661 said:
Victor Charlie;1442039 said:
Sure I know, its a total blast, but put some sand bags in the back of the truck and drive. Stiff suspension, LSD, bigger sway bars all work against you for snow traction.Victor Charlie;1442948 said:
My suspicion is that everybody is bummed your car is going to rust away. I know I am. Please drive a winter beater... Unless you already have rust holes and aren't planning on keeping that car.Victor Charlie;1442952 said:
If you do plan on replacing the car with a SW one, let me know as I have always wanted to ferry one back to MI, I have a car back there that I would like to drive back here.
You would be blown away that you can unbolt every bolt on the exhaust without snapping a fastener, and easily re-use it.
arz;1442970 said:
I should probably mention that I don't drive my car in the snow, I have a VW for that. That's why I have all this stuff on. For spirited summer driving :naughty:
steve1479;1443047 said:
You guys are missing out. Love the snow. Love the seasons. Love the depression, LOL.
My supra is very clean, only rust is from a bad repair years ago when my Dad owned the car, and that will be fixed soon. I work over the bottom of the car every year, changed most of the rusted bolts and rust proofed the exposed metal with several layers. I wash it regularly, including the underside, when it snows, since I live next to a car wash. Properly maintained, the car does fine with Michigan winters. Yes, I envy guys that can reuse exhaust system bolts and don't have to drill out rusted bolts, but every year I get it cleaner. When i rebuilt the engine, every last fastener was either replaced, or stripped to good metal and primered/painted. I should buy stock in companies that make rust dissolving chemicals, as much as i use.
I thought the LSD would help, I don't have it in yet. I have stock springs, its not lowered, I'm going with adjustable shocks, and i have skinny snow tires for winter. It works fine. Snow driving is like a mini lesson in drifting and makes you a better driver. Especially if you have a safe place to practice and learn.
arz;1442970 said:
i wish i had a winter beater.. But unfortunately this is my dd.. and i am poor lol. maybe next year i'll get a winter beater when i save up enough $$
That's why I love my little Golf. It's turbo diesel so it costs me pennies to run and a tank of diesel will last me forever. The parts are cheap as ever and it's easy to work on, as long as you know how to work on a diesel. FWD in the snow is also pretty easy to drive